South Africa’s efforts to strengthen enforcement against illegal offshore gambling remain in the advocacy and stakeholder engagement phase, according to Sean Coleman, CEO of the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA).
“At this stage, it remains largely within the advocacy and stakeholder engagement phase,” Coleman says. “The publication of our statement was intended to contribute constructively to what we believe is an increasingly important national policy discussion rather than to suggest that legislative amendments are imminent.”
SABA has proposed changes to the National Gambling Act, Electronic Communications Act and Financial Intelligence Centre Act, alongside coordinated action from the Reserve Bank and other regulators.
A Yield Sec report commissioned by SABA estimated that illegal operators account for about 62% of South Africa’s online gambling activity, diverting more than R50 billion in gross gambling revenue offshore each year. Around 16 million South Africans reportedly used illegal platforms during the past year.
NGB Procurement Advances Technology Debate
“Our proposals touch on gambling regulation, electronic communications, payment systems and financial intelligence legislation, which means that a coordinated approach will ultimately be required,” he said.
SABA has welcomed a National Gambling Board procurement process launched on 30 June for providers able to monitor, block, track and report illegal gambling websites. Submissions are due by 7 August 2026.
“Our understanding is that the National Gambling Board has commenced a procurement process for specialised services aimed at strengthening its capabilities in identifying and responding to illegal online gambling activities,” he said. “Beyond what has been publicly tendered, we have not been provided with operational timelines or implementation details.”
Coleman said technology should support wider enforcement measures.
“SABA has consistently advocated for a multi-layered approach that combines technology, legislation and coordinated enforcement. Website blocking, while important, should not be viewed as a silver bullet,” Coleman said.
Local Conditions Complicate Enforcement
SABA’s July statement followed an ISPA paper calling for a clear legislative framework for website blocking. Coleman said he was unaware of a direct response.
“Not that I am aware of.”
He pointed to South Africa’s nine provincial gambling licensing frameworks as an enforcement challenge. Illegal operators also use local payment methods, Rand-denominated betting, local language support and digital marketing. Cross-border payment systems and cryptocurrency create further difficulties because operators can shift services quickly.
“If I were required to prioritise one intervention, it would be the establishment of an effective and legally certain mechanism to disrupt consumer access to illegal gambling platforms through coordinated technological enforcement measures,” he said. “This should operate alongside an authoritative and regularly updated public register of licensed operators and an expanded consumer awareness campaign.”
Coleman said reducing access would strengthen consumer protection while wider reforms develop. He rejected the suggestion that SABA’s campaign seeks to protect licensed operators from competition.
“This is not a debate about protecting licensed operators from competition,” he said. “It is about ensuring that South African consumers receive the protections parliament intended when it created our regulated gambling framework. If consumers are gambling, they should do so within a regulated environment that provides responsible gambling safeguards, contributes to the fiscus and operates subject to South African law.”
Source:
“SABA CEO: Fight against illegal SA gambling still at advocacy stage despite legislative push”, igamingbusiness.com, August 4, 2026
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